i read. i write. i think. i link.

The Justice Department is claiming, in a little-noticed court filing, that a federal agent had the right to impersonate a young woman online by creating a Facebook page in her name without her knowledge. Government lawyers also are defending the agent’s right to scour the woman’s seized cell phone and to post photographs — including racy pictures of her and even one of her young son and niece — to the phony social media account, which the agent was using to communicate with suspected criminals.

This sets a dangerous precedent. Even if we allow that they were justified in co-opting her social media identity as part of an ongoing investigation, how is it kosher to include her innocent child in the mix?